Printing



Feb. 11, 1936. 1'. E. KNOWLTON PRINTING Filed July 20, 1931 I210611172". T/uwdore [maul/Em.

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for printing blanksheets on one or both sides and then immediately drying the freshlyprinted sheets whereby they may be readily rolled or cut up intoindividual pieces and handled without smearing or blurring of the ink.

The invention consists in the novel methods, combinations andarrangements hereinafter described or claimed for carrying out theabovestated object and such other objects as will hereinafter appear.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to one embodimentthereof which is described in the following specification for thepurpose of illustration. In this embodiment the sheet to be printed, forexample Cellophane paper, is fed through any conventional type ofprinting apparatus comprising printing and impression means and is thentraversed through a heated or drying zone whereby drying means isimpinged upon the freshly printed surface until the ink is completelydry or is sufliciently dry to permit the sheet being rolled or otherwisedisposed of without smearing.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be made to theaccompanying drawing in which the single figure is a view in verticalelevation, partly sectional, of that part of a printing apparatusembodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, numeral l designates a blank sheet of paper,such as Cellophane, which may be fed-from any source, such as a supplyroll, to a conventional printing apparatus comprising a printing roll 2and an impression roll 3. This sheet is ordinarily to be printed on oneside only and after being printed is traversed over a tension or take-uproll 4 to one or a series of drying. cylinders 5, 6, 7, and 8. Anynumber of drying rolls may be provided, and they are preferably disposedin order that the freshly printed sheet may be circumvolved thereoverwith the opposite faces alternately contacted.

While the drying cylinders may be varied as to size they are preferablydriven in synchronism with the printed roll and arranged to coordinateand register therewith. As far as relating to the present invention,however, they are of the same general structure in which each ishollowed with a central chamber 9 to which compressed air is suppliedthrough the usual stuffing box at the axis of the journal and thendischarged to the periphery of the cylinders to any number ofperforations Hi. The perforated cylinders are faced with a perforated orforaminated sheet H, such that the air may be varied as to temperatureas a wire screening, whereby the air may be discharged through theperforations and distributed by means of the screening over the entireface of the sheet. In addition to or in lieu of discharging air throughthe hollow perforated 5 cylinders, air may also be impinged against theprinted sheet during its movement from the printing and impressioncylinders to the drying cylinders, and during its movement from onedrying cylinder to another. If this latter dry- 10 ing means be employedin lieu of discharging the air through the cylinders, the cylinders maybe solid, in which case the screen facing functions merely as anirregular supporting surface to prevent smearing of the ink. In thisinstance, emery 16 or sanded paper may be employed as the facing for thecylinders, the sanded side being exposed to contact with the printedblank.

While I have shown several rolls of similar construction it will beunderstood that any num-v 20 ber of them may be used and they may bedisposed in any arrangement desired. Any or all of the cylinders may bejournaled in fixed or adjustable bearings. It will be further understoodand dryness to suit particular circumstances and could be ejectedthrough the perforated cylinders under different degrees of pressure.

Obviously the present invention is not limited to the specificembodiment herein shown and described, for various changes in detail maybe made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A method of drying a freshly printed sheet 35 comprising feeding saidsheet with its freshly printed side in contact with an irregular unevenscreen surface, and impinging a drying means through the screen upon thefreshly printed side while being fed over said surface of the sheet.

2. A method of drying a freshly printed sheet comprising feeding saidsheet in juxtaposition with an irregular uneven surface, actuating thejuxtaposed sheet and irregular surface through a predetermined path, andimpinging a drying means against the freshly printed side of the sheetduring. its movement in this predetermined path.

3. A method of drying a freshly printed sheet comprising providing acylinder having a perforated periphery, facing the cylinder with aforaminated layer having an irregular uneven surface, circumvolving thefreshly printed sheet over the cylinder with the freshly printed side incontact with the foraminated layers, and

ejecting a. drying means through the perforated cylinder against thefreshly printed sheet.

i. In combination with a. printing device, a'

drying means comprising a cylinder provided with a. perforated peripheryhaving an irregular uneven peripheral surface, and a. conduit providedin the cylinder leading to the perforated periphery.

THEODORE EVKNOWLTON.

